HANDEL – MESSIAH

A stellar galaxy of solo singers – Phillipa Hyde, David Allsopp, Ben Thapa and Sheffield’s own Matthew Palmer and the members of the National Festival Orchestra led by Sally Robinson join SHEFFIELD BACH CHOIR and conductor Dr Simon Lindley, for the annual performance of the completeMESSIAH at the heart of the city, held this year in the Victoria Hall Methodist Church on Monday 2nd December at 7pm. Yorkshire folk have long regarded the work as particularly an Advent or Christmas piece – which is interesting since so much of the work is concerned with the Passion, Resurrection and coming of the Kingdom of Christ. The Bach Choir this year revives the century and a half West Riding tradition of prefacing the work with the singing of the 18th century Christmas Hymn Christians, awake, to the music of Manchester Cathedral’s John Wainwright. “The Bach Choir’s singing of the famous Choruses in Messiah never ceases to move as well as to impress me”, says Conductor Dr Simon Lindley; “it’s a real privilege to be working with the members on the piece once again.” Tickets from choir members, www.sheffieldbachchoir.org.uk or on the door.